Snow Removal

Snow Updates:

For updates on where our trucks have been, visit our Open Data Set: Winter Control - Snowplow Activity (map included). Please note: other contracted trucks and machinery are not captured in the tracking.

Winter Control Levels of Service:

Main Routes

Main routes are salted and/or ploughed once snow begins to fall and accumulate.

There are currently 21 main salt/plough routes consisting of roads classified as Expressway, Arterial, and Collector as defined by the City of Windsor Official Plan. These routes also include fire/hospital emergency routes and Transit Windsor bus routes.

If accumulation exceeds 5 centimetres (2 inches) during a snowfall, salting may cease temporarily and ploughing be utilized as appropriate for the conditions.

Also, if the temperature is below -12°C (10°F) during a snowfall, salt begins to lose its effectiveness, and depending upon the snow accumulation, salting may cease temporarily and ploughing be utilized as appropriate for the conditions.

The average cost for Winter Control on main routes during the normal workday is $12,000 per hour.

Local/Residential Streets

Streets are salted and/or ploughed in the vicinity of schools during the normal workday once main routes have been cleared.

Residential streets are ploughed when the accumulation from a snowfall event exceeds 10 centimetres (4 inches), once main routes have been cleared. (Average time/cost for all streets: 24 hours - $300,000).

In order to allow for a more efficient residential snow plough operation and to avoid cars from being ploughed in, the City recommends that residents remove their parked cars from roadways until they are cleared.

Sidewalks

Residents are required to clear snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property as per By-Law #8544.

Residents are reminded that they may be required to clear sidewalks more than once throughout a storm as snow ploughs may push snow onto sidewalks during road clearing operations.

Snow is cleared during the normal workday from City-owned sidewalks and on sidewalks where there is not an abutting property owner (i.e. overpasses and underpasses). (see Sidewalk Snow Removal Map).

Bus Stops

If the accumulation from a snowfall event exceeds 15 centimetres (6 inches) and all roadways have been cleared, bus stops identified by Transit Windsor as a priority will be cleared.

General

Service levels may be amended as conditions require.

Removal of major accumulations of snow along curbs in business areas may be considered as conditions require.

Inquiries regarding the enforcement of the snow clearing by-law on City sidewalks are handled by By-law Enforcement Officers, Corporate Services. See Snow Removal By-law #8544.

What Can I Do to Help?

Residents and drivers can help by doing the following:

Be patient. In heavy snow falls, it takes us longer to get all our streets clear.

Stay alert, slow down, and stay in control when driving your vehicle.

Leave room for ploughs. When you see the blue flashing lights on the winter maintenance equipment, remain a safe distance behind them. Also, never pass a snow plough. This is an extremely dangerous practice.

Keep parked cars off streets wherever possible.

Shovel your sidewalk. City By-law 8544 requires all residents to clear the snow from sidewalks abutting their property.

Keep fire hydrants clear and visible.

Throw snow on your lawn, not on the street. Shoveling snow back onto the street creates unsafe road conditions for motorists and is prohibited by the Highway Traffic Act.